HEADLINES

Baltimore Ravens News & Rumors

Ravens Sign OLB Carl Lawson

October 23rd, 2025 at 6:16pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Ravens signed veteran edge rusher Carl Lawson on Thursday, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

The seven-year veteran will join Baltimore’s practice squad after a workout earlier this week, according to KPRC2’S Aaron Wilson. A shortage of outside linebacker depth could press Lawson into action right away, though he will have to get up to speed quickly after not signing with any team this offseason.

The Ravens currently have three healthy edge rushers on their active roster after trading Odafe Oweh to the Chargers and losing Tavius Robinson to a broken foot in Week 6. Robinson was placed on injured reserve and is not expected back until late November at the earliest. 2024 third-rounder Adisa Isaac started the year on IR and could return sooner than Robinson, but he barely played as a rookie and is still somewhat of an unknown quantity.

Lawson brings plenty of experience with 89 appearances and 34 starts in his career. The 2017 fourth-round pick logged 20.0 sacks for the Bengals in his first four seasons before signing a three-year deal with the Jets in 2021. A torn Achilles ended his season in training camp, but he came back strong in 2022, starting all 17 games with seven sacks and nine tackles for loss. Injuries hampered Lawson in 2023, but he rebounded again in 2024 with five sacks in a rotational role for the Cowboys.

The Ravens also waived tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden on Thursday, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, signaling that veteran fullback Patrick Ricard will be making his season debut on Sunday. Ricard missed the first six games with a nagging calf injury with Mitchell-Paden filling his role in the offense, but his absence has had a noticeable impact on the Ravens’ run game.

Ravens Activate Rookie OL Emery Jones

October 22nd, 2025 at 9:06pm CST by Ely Allen

While returns to practice for quarterback Lamar Jackson and linebacker Roquan Smith garnered much of the attention in Baltimore today, Wednesday also saw the Ravens put in a transaction that could benefit the team’s attempts to turn this season around in another way. Today Baltimore activated rookie offensive lineman Emery Jones from the reserve/non-football injury list, on the very last day of his 21-day practice window, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.

The third-round pick out of LSU was placed on the list due to shoulder surgery that he underwent when he was still a draft prospect just a week separated from the NFL Scouting Combine. The Ravens selected him near the end of Day 2 partially aware of the time it would take him to return and potentially contribute. Originally, Jones was expected to return sometime around training camp, but as it became clear that a regular season deadline was going to be a stretch to make, Baltimore opted to wait until he could be fully healthy and ended up using all four required weeks from opening the year on the NFI list plus the entirety of his three-week practice window before activating him.

Early hopes concerning Jones’ use on the offensive line were that he may be able to step into the swing tackle role left vacant by the exit of Patrick Mekari or that he would compete for one of the starting guard spots. Despite projecting as an interior lineman as a left tackle in high school, Jones played solely at right tackle for the Tigers and saw projections at guard once again in the draft. Upon Jones’ return to practice, head coach John Harbaugh claimed they would be working him at both tackle and guard.

If Jones could step in as a swing tackle, it would provide a younger, cheaper option to current backup tackle Joe Noteboom, who has struggled filling in for Ronnie Stanley at times this year. What could really impact the Ravens would be if Jones can displace one of the team’s starting guards, Daniel Faalele or Andrew Vorhees. Faalele is a physical specimen on the interior — listed at 6-foot-8, 370 pounds — but has struggled to find consistent play as a starter. Vorhees was a projected second- or third-rounder whose draft stock fell when he tore his ACL during drills at the combine. He’s earned a starting role in his third year in Baltimore but has commonly been grouped with Faalele as weak spots on the line.

It may be too soon to expect Jones to displace any of Noteboom, Faalele, or Vorhees from their current roles just yet, but at this point, he’s finally healthy and has three weeks of practice under his belt. Activating Jones puts him on the 53-man roster, and to open up a spot for him, the Ravens placed third-year pass rusher Tavius Robinson on injured reserve, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Another third-year player in a new starting role, Robinson recently broke his foot and will now join Adisa Isaac, Nnamdi Madubuike, and Broderick Washington as front-seven defenders on IR.

Ravens Host Carl Lawson, Efe Obada

October 21st, 2025 at 12:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

As the Ravens prepare for the post-bye portion of their schedule, they find themselves on the lookout for depth additions along the edge. A number of free agents are receiving a look.

Among the veterans Baltimore is interested in is Carl Lawson. The former Bengal, Jet and Cowboy recently took part in a workout, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes. Lawson has 89 regular season appearances to his name, including 15 with Dallas last season. After seeing his contract expire in the spring, the 30-year-old was not linked to any interested teams through training camp or the first month-plus of the campaign.

Another veteran edge rusher on the Ravens’ radar is Efe Obada. He is among the players being hosted today, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Obada has played 80 games split between the Panthers, Bill and Commanders; he posted between four and 5.5 sacks each year from 2020-22. Like Lawson, the 33-year-old would be expected to take on a rotational role in the event he signed with the Ravens.

No area of Baltimore’s defense has lived up to expectations so far in 2025, and the unit’s struggles have contributed to a 1-5 record. In particular, a lack of pass rush production has been a sore spot. The Ravens have recorded just eight sacks this season, the fewest in the NFL. Improving in that regard will be critical if the season is to be salvaged over the coming weeks.

Baltimore traded away Odafe Oweh recently after it became known no extension would be worked out with the former first-rounder. More recently, Tavius Robinson has suffered a broken foot; he will be sidelined for an extended period as a result. With the team short on healthy options along the edge, it comes as little surprise the Ravens are looking into available free agents.

Also included in Baltimore’s recent batch of workouts is linebacker Jesse Luketa, per Zrebiec. The 26-year-old Canadian was drafted by the Cardinals in 2022, and he made 31 appearances across three seasons. Luketa has a track record of heavy usage on special teams and he posted a career-high three sacks last season. It will be interesting to see if he or any of the other defenders being auditioned land a deal in the near future. Baltimore currently has $14.65MM in cap space.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/20/25

October 20th, 2025 at 6:14pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Indianapolis Colts

San Francisco 49ers

David Long Jr. brings some experience to Indy’s practice squad, as the veteran defensive back has seen time in 79 career games. This included a 13-game showing with the Colts in 2024, although all but nine of his 117 snaps came on special teams. If he finds his way to the active roster, he’ll likely be eyeing a similar role this time around.

AFC Trade Notes: Patriots, Colts, Chiefs, Ravens, Jaguars

October 19th, 2025 at 4:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots improved to 5-2 on the season with their win this afternoon. As a result, New England could be one of the teams inclined to pursue trade additions over the coming days.

The Pats have already made one in-season swap, sending Ja’Lynn Polk to the Saints. That trade left the team thinner at the receiver spot, but an addition at that position does not appear to be forthcoming. During an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported New England should not be expected to pursue a receiver move compared to other positions (video link). Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas have each played a role in quarterback Drake Maye‘s strong start to the season; it seems that depth chart will not change in the near future.

On the other hand, New England’s pass rush room could be different shortly. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports (subscription required) the Patriots are making calls about an addition along the edge. With a league-leading $55MM in cap space, the team could certainly afford a splashy addition. Meanwhile, New England is receiving calls about a number of internal players, per Russini. Anfernee Jennings could be on the move, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds. The 28-year-old has lost his starting spot, so a change of scenery could be worked out allowing him to return to first-team action. Jennings – who would be an inexpensive target for interested teams – is under contract through 2026.

As the November 4 deadline approaches, here are some other trade notes from around the AFC:

  • Injuries (along with Xavien Howard‘s retirement) have ravaged the Colts’ secondary in 2025. In spite of that, Indianapolis has managed to start the season 5-1. It would thus come as little surprise if the team operated as a buyer ahead of the deadline. Per Russini, cornerback is a position being targeted as part of the general aim of adding on defense. Finances could be a challenge since Indianapolis has just $4.7MM in cap space, but the team will be one to monitor regarding at least a modest acquisition.
  • After a shutout win against Vegas, the Chiefs are 4-3. Kansas City has been named as one of the top suitors for a backfield addition, but it appears nothing is imminent on that front. Russini reports the Chiefs are making calls about a defensive line acquisition but not doing so for running backs. Most of the team’s incumbent backs are pending free agents, although the second half of the campaign could convince Kansas City to retain one or more of them. The Chiefs’ passing game has thrived this year, but they sit mid-pack in rushing production.
  • Second-year Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr has drawn criticism for his unit’s poor play early on. Orr is safe in his current position, and he could soon have one or more new players in the fold. According to Rappoport, Baltimore is in the market for a defensive addition. General manager Eric DeCosta has a history of being aggressive on the trade front, and the Ravens have the cap space ($14.65MM) to swing at least a rental move ahead of the deadline.
  • Both Rapoport and Russini point to the Jaguars as another team to watch. Jacksonville has made a pair of trades since the start of the campaign, and more could be coming. Defensive help is being sought out, and Rapoport specifies the D-line as an area which could be targeted. Sunday’s lopsided loss to the Rams dropped Jacksonville to 4-3; the team leads the NFL in interceptions but ranks just 22nd in scoring defense.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/14/25

October 14th, 2025 at 7:55pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

  • Signed: G Karsen Barnhart, LB Garrett Nelson

Green Bay Packers

  • Released: K Mark McNamee

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: OT Bayron Matos, QB Brett Rypien
  • Released: OT Marcellus Johnson

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

  • Signed: TE Marshall Lang
  • Released: DB Tyron Herring, TE Gee Scott Jr.

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

  • Released: G Tyler Cooper

With Anthony Richardson heading to injured reserve with an eye injury, the Colts are set to add some QB depth in veteran Brett Rypien, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The 29-year-old brings four games of starting experience to Indy, with his most recent start coming with the Rams in 2023. In total, Rypien has completed 58.3 percent of his career passes for 950 yards, four touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Riley Leonard will temporarily be the QB2 behind Daniel Jones, but there’s a chance Rypien eventually works his way up to the active roster.

The Chargers moved on from a notable edge defender today in Clelin Ferrell. The former Raiders first-round pick started all 17 games for the 49ers just two years ago, with the edge rusher finishing that campaign with 3.5 sacks and 13 QB hits. He started 10 of his 14 appearances with the Commanders in 2024, adding another 3.5 sacks to his resume. After being among Washington’s final preseason cuts, Ferrell caught on with the Chargers practice squad and ended up getting into one game with the big-league club.

The Eagles moved on from a pair of skill players today. Audric Estime was a fifth-round pick by the Broncos last year, with the running back compiling 337 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 81 touches. He was waived by Denver back in August and landed on Philly’s practice squad. Javon Baker was a fourth-round pick by the Patriots in last year’s draft, but he was limited to a single catch in 11 games.

Ravens Release S C.J. Gardner-Johnson

October 14th, 2025 at 1:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

C.J. Gardner-Johnson is beginning to take a Diontae Johnson-like journey around the NFL, right down to joining and then leaving the Ravens. Baltimore is releasing the veteran safety from its practice squad.

This may be more of a fit-related transaction, however, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter indicating Gardner-Johnson’s agent viewed the team’s addition of Alohi Gilman as an impediment for his client. Gardner-Johnson’s agent said the well-traveled defender is looking for a “clearer path to play.”

The Ravens have struggled mightily on defense this season, but the team does have some safety options. Gilman joins All-Pro Kyle Hamilton and first-round pick Malaki Starks. While the rookie has struggled to open his debut season, the Ravens have plenty invested at safety between the fully guaranteed first-round contract and Hamilton’s market-shifting extension.

Gilman has also been a regular starter for years, and he played 83% of Baltimore’s defensive snaps in the team’s Week 6 matchup; this included a starting assignment less than a week after being acquired.

The Gilman-for-Odafe Oweh trade came on the same day the Ravens signed Gardner-Johnson to their practice squad. The latter transaction marked a bounce-back opportunity for Gardner-Johnson, who had been jettisoned by two teams since March. Like Johnson last year, Gardner-Johnson joined the Ravens after two teams moved on. Less than a year after the Ravens suspended the increasingly mercurial wideout and then waived him, they will wrap Gardner-Johnson’s tenure at a week.

Being traded from Philadelphia to Houston as part of a trade that sent Kenyon Green to the Eagles, Gardner-Johnson received his Texans walking papers three games into the season. The Texans used Gardner-Johnson as a three-game starter. Like Johnson in 2024, the trash-talking DB requested a trade out of his second stop of the year. The Texans instead cut him, as they did Johnson shortly after claiming him. Green is also gone from Philly, making the March swap a lose-lose trade. The former first-round guard is on the Ravens’ practice squad, representing an interesting fallout from the Eagles-Texans trade.

Gardner-Johnson, 27, has been traded twice and been part of four teams. The Saints dealt him to the Eagles in a contract year, and after some confusion about a return to Philly, CJGJ ended up in Detroit as a 2023 free agent. The Eagles re-signed the former fourth-round pick and deployed him as a starter, leading to a second six-interception season in three years as the team mounted a championship run. Gardner-Johnson is a 64-game starter; he will look for a path that allows him to add to that total.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/13/25

October 13th, 2025 at 7:29pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the latest moves from around the NFL,including practice squad elevations for all four teams playing on Monday Night Football:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

  • Signed off Ravens’ practice squad: S J.T. Gray

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

  • Waived: OL Isaac Alarcon

Washington Commanders

The Bears elevated Moody to kick in their Monday night matchup with the Commanders with Cairo Santos sidelined by a quad injury.

Ravens OLB Tavius Robinson To Miss Extended Time

October 13th, 2025 at 3:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Ravens’ pass rush group was thinned out by last week’s decision to trade away Odafe Oweh. The unit will be shorthanded to a even larger extent moving forward.

Head coach John Harbaugh announced on Monday (video link) that Tavius Robinson suffered a broken foot in Week 6. As a result, the third-year outside linebacker is facing an absence of six to eight weeks. This will mark the first missed time of Robinson’s career.

The 26-year-old Canadian handled a part-time defensive workload as a rookie, but he took on a much larger role last season. After starting seven games in 2024, Robinson worked as a first-team presence each game this year and handled a 65% snap share prior to going down. That workload was set to remain high through the remainder of the campaign, especially with Oweh no longer in the picture.

Instead, the Ravens will be forced to move forward with an EDGE group led by veteran Kyle Van Noy. Baltimore also has David Ojabo and second-round rookie Mike Green in place as candidates to take on an increased role with Robinson sidelined. Second-year pass rusher Adisa Isaac is still in the team’s plans for 2025 after being designated for return from IR during roster cutdowns.

When speaking about Isaac on Monday (video link), Harbaugh said a return in mid-to-late November is expected. Isaac – who missed most of his rookie campaign through injury – sustained ligament damage in his elbow during the 2025 preseason. He continues to rehab the ailment, and a depth role should be in store upon return given the lack of available pass rushers for Baltimore at the moment.

Robinson totaled 13 pressures in 2024 and was well on his way to increasing that figure this season with five through his first six games. Given the former fourth-rounder’s ability to move inside in certain situations, his absence will be acutely felt on a Baltimore defense which ranks at or near the bottom of the league in several categories. After the Ravens acquired two new safeties last week, it will be interesting to see if a pass rush addition is targeted in the wake of today’s news.

Eagles DE Za’Darius Smith Retires

October 13th, 2025 at 11:26am CST by Adam La Rose

Za’Darius Smith has taken part in five of the Eagles’ six games this season, but his time with Philadelphia is abruptly coming to an end. The veteran pass rush announced on Instagram Monday that he is retiring.

“Who would’ve thought that a kid from Greenville, Alabama, with just one year of high school football experience, would go on to play professional football in the NFL for 11 incredible years,” Smith’s announcement reads in part. “Football has transformed my life and my family’s lives forever – and for that, I’m forever grateful.”

Smith has served as a starter for much of his career, and he notched four sacks upon arriving via trade in Detroit last season. In spite of that, the three-time Pro Bowler remained unsigned through training camp. One day after opening the campaign, the Eagles signed Smith to a one-year deal. He has played in all five of the team’s games since then, logging a 38% snap share.

Today’s announcement comes as quite the surprise as a result, as Smith was in position to continue handling a rotational role with his latest team. Instead, his NFL career has come to an end. This decision is a personal one and not tied to his playing time in Philadelphia, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. Nevertheless, an Eagles team which entered the campaign with questions about pass rush production will be shorthanded moving forward. This news could steer the team toward a trade for an edge rusher in the near future.

Smith entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Ravens in 2015. He flashed potential with 5.5 sacks as a rookie, and after developing into a regular on defense posted 8.5 sacks in the final year of his rookie contract. That resulted in a big-ticket free agent deal with the Packers, the first of three NFC North teams Smith wound up playing for in his career.

Following his 2022 release from Green Bay, Smith seemed to have a Ravens reunion lined up. In the end, however, he signed with the Vikings. That did not lead to a lengthy tenure in Minnesota, as the Kentucky alum was traded to the Browns after one season. Smith was limited to just one game in 2021, but across his healthy campaigns with Green Bay and Minnesota he amassed 36 sacks. Expectations remained high for continued production with the Browns.

Smith was unable to establish himself as a long-term complement to Myles Garrett with a downturn in sack totals during his one full Cleveland campaign. After Aidan Hutchinson suffered a season-ending injury last year, Smith was named as a candidate to be dealt to the Lions. That took place as expected, and during this past offseason Smith remained in contact with Detroit even after being released in a cost-shedding move.

With no deal being worked out on that front, though, Smith eventually took a pact with the Eagles. The defending Super Bowl champions have lost two straight but they sit at 4-2 on the year and could again find themselves in contention for a deep postseason run in 2025. The team’s plans ahead of the deadline could now include the pursuit of a Smith replacement.

Smith will now turn his attention to his post-playing days at the age of 33. He exits the NFL with 154 combined regular and postseason appearances and nearly $91MM in career earnings.

Load More Posts